The Hague
The Hague city tours
The Hague is where the country is actually run, and it is not the capital. That contradiction is the best way into the city, and it is where the tour starts.
Ask about a tour of The Hague
The walking tour
The centre is compact and covers the political heart of the country on foot. It takes in Lange Voorhout, the Parliament buildings at the Binnenhof with the Hofvijver beside them, and the former Jewish district, which is now the city’s Chinatown. The walk explains why parliament sits here while Amsterdam holds the title of capital, an arrangement that has survived since the Dutch Republic.
The coach tour
The wider version, for groups who want the parts that are too far apart to walk. It covers the centre, the Peace Palace that houses the International Court of Justice, the embassy district, Madurodam where the entire country is reproduced at one twenty fifth scale, and the beach and pier at Scheveningen.
Where it fits
The Hague is fifteen minutes from Delft and about twenty five from Rotterdam, which is why all three are often taken together as a full day. In spring it also pairs naturally with Keukenhof, which is closer to The Hague than to Amsterdam.
Common questions
Is The Hague the capital of the Netherlands?
No. Amsterdam is the capital, but parliament, the government, the Supreme Court and the King’s working palace are all in The Hague. The arrangement dates back to the Dutch Republic and the tour explains how it happened.
Can we go inside the Peace Palace?
The coach tour passes it and the visitor centre is nearby. Access to the building itself depends on the court’s schedule and is arranged separately when it is possible at all.
Is Madurodam worth it for adults?
More than people expect. Seeing the whole country at one twenty fifth scale is the fastest way to understand how the Dutch landscape was engineered, which is useful before you drive through the real version.
